After the Sports and Exhibition Authority and Planning Commission voted to demolish the Arena this past summer/fall, Eloise McDonald of the Hill District nominated the Civic Arena for local historic designation. Preservation Pittsburgh and Reuse the Igloo co‑authored the nomination.

To date, the Historic Review Commission and Planning Commission have both rejected the nomination even though the Arena clearly meets several of the preservation ordinance criteria, only one of which needs to be met in order to qualify. Thus, the final decision on the nomination rests with City Council (vote could happen in May or June).

Demolishing the Civic Arena will have environmental, economic, and aesthetic impact, and once it's gone it can never be brought back. Why should we tear down this marvel of modernism only to build something ordinary on the site or, even worse, use the area for surface parking? We believe a re-purposed Arena as part of the Lower Hill redevelopment could be an exciting centerpiece and a renewed icon for Pittsburgh. It could be a win-win situation for all parties –the Penguins, Hill residents, and the region at large.

Despite the odds, there are still reasons to be optimistic.

But we could really use your help by:

-Signing the following petition to government officials at the local, state, and federal level (including City Council):